It all started one day when I was at her house.

“Okay, is your animal a mammal?”

We were playing 20 questions, and I was up.

“Nope.” I laughed. She had tried at least four times, and I had won every time.

“Does your animal even exist?!” She said, clearly frustrated.

“Hint,” I said, “It is now extinct.”

She threw her hands in the air. “You can’t do dinosaurs! It’s against the rules!”

“Never said so.” I retorted.

“Whatever. Fine, you win. I’ll be right back. Bathroom.”

She left the room and I sat down, looking around. It was then I noticed it. The box.

It was sitting at the top of her closet, and I instantly recognized it. It was the box she forbade anyone but herself from even touching. She had told me before that it contained a dangerous secret, and that she was jeopardized even from ever seeing it. Of course I didn’t believe her. There was no way it could ever be so dangerous that she wouldn’t even let me, as her best friend, see it.

I stood up and quietly walked over to it, careful not to step on the creaky floor board. It was so close I could almost touch it.

I took another step forward, and touched the smooth surface. I took it down and looked at it. The box was made of a polished wood, with brass hinges and a small silver lock on the front. I tugged on the lock and it pulled open. Carefully removing the lock, I opened the box. Inside was a small cloth, which I carefully pulled aside, revealing a small flash drive. I took it out and studied it. There was nothing special about it.

“What are you doing?” I heard Hannah’s voice, cold as stone.

I quickly shut the box.

“I was just…” I trailed off.

“Do you realize what you’ve done?” She said, her voice quietly trembling.

“I didn’t think it would do any harm.”

“Didn’t think it would do any harm? I warned you! And you didn’t listen!” She screamed.

“Calm down!” I said, my voice raising. “What did you expect me to do? Just never know? I’ve never kept anything from you!”

“It was my one expectation of you! And you disrespected it!” She sat down on the bed, crying.

“I’m sorry.” She said softly, drying her eyes. “But I’m afraid for you.”

“There’s nothing to be afraid of.” I said, attempting to comfort her.

“No. You don’t understand. You’re in danger now. And I can’t protect you.”

“But if I don’t tell…”

“They already know. And they will try to find you.”

“Who?”

“Nobody knows. But you cannot speak a word of this to anyone.”

“And if they’ve already found me?”

She looked down.

“Then you’re already dead.”